Phil Steele's preseason magazine calls for Michigan State to finish ahead of Michigan. The Spartans are looking to win for the fifth time in the past six games against the Wolverines.J. Scott Park | MLive.com

EAST LANSING — Phil Steele's college football preview magazine ranks Michigan State No. 23, one spot ahead of rival Michigan for this upcoming season.

Steele surmises that as far as the Spartans' quarterback situation goes, "this should be one of the most improved QB positions in the country,'' and that the receivers "will have fewer drops than they have the L2Y (last two years).''

Steele notes Michigan State used six different offensive line combinations through the first eight games last season, and he states that "they can only stay healthier and clearly looks like the best OL of the Dantonio era.''

Steele believes the defensive line will be "down a few notches,'' but says the linebacking corps "remains one of the top LB corps in the country.''

He also believes the secondary "looks just as strong" as last year's.

Steele believes that the 13 lettermen MSU lost is second fewest in the Big Ten, and "if they catch some breaks and win those close games like they did in '11, they could find themselves back in the B10 Title game.''

Steele said all seven sets of his predicted records indicate Michigan State will win more than seven games, and two of his models have the Spartans winning 10 games or more.

Steele projects freshman Gerald Homes to win the starting tailback job, but he has yet to update his depth chart, as he has Skyler Burkland the projected started at right tackle.